Ol' WDB's Column

COORDINATORS
wdbonner@pacbell.net

Dear readers, I am sorry to report the battle rages on between the "haves and have-nots". A better description may be, "the coordinators and the Un-coordinators". As you are aware of the discomfiture and friction between some regional coordinators, among themselves and the zone one coordinator, the pot finally boiled over. For some time the "Ol'Codger" has pleaded for fido friends to close ranks and come together to no avail. Policy4 has become the root of most dissension.

There are those that speak of starting their own nets, others speak of starting their own nodelists. The un-cooperators are in the process of trying to Hi-jack fidonet. I have an idea, let's try the last resort, prayer! It may not work, but it couldn't hurt. Yes a miracle is needed, NOW.

The nodes that already have an exception to reside in a geographical location other than their own, have received permission by their *C's to do so, with the understanding that it is revoke if it causes any problem. Some of these are very necessary as they would not be in Fidonet were it not permitted. Some are not necessary at all.

My own net 103 had a horrendous fight with ex-RC Kohl over nodes in net 102 that had to call long distance from cities along the Orange/LA Counties border where they resided, to get a connection with their assigned NEC. The nodes NC's and the previous R10C Dave Garrett had approved their exceptions as they were local calls to net 103NEC Fidonet lost eight nodes on Kohl's orders for them to return to his net 102. Had we not complied with his order, he threatened that net 103 would be removed from the nodelist. I have another idea, lets all try to accommodate and cooperate with each other without politics.

Reducing the egos to one on one, all of you would see each other in a new light. Just for a moment, imagine you were isolated in the whole world from anyone you know. Now your perceived "enemy" sysop is suddenly the only person in your world... the only one to talk to, the only one that may help you when you need help... suddenly it is not all about you being more wealthy, more educated, more savvy... Just take a moment to think about it... does the "Golden Rule" seem wise?

Back to the root of the dissension a moment. We really need to set some committee in place to find a way to correct the problems that Policy4 seems inadequate to handle. I suggested this three years ago in the above mentioned fido-fray. For us to fly full blast ahead into the storm of complaints and pleas for exceptions in the face of evolving technology is as asinine as trying to play a CD on a phonograph.

With that I put my Ouija Board back in the closet and close the idea department for this week.

Warm regards, Ol'wdb